PC Oliver Banfield, 25, (right) a probationary officer with West Midlands Police, grabbed mother-of-two Emma Homer, 36, (left) in Bedford-on-Avon, Works, last July. Banfield tried to tackle her to the ground and put her in a headlock before Miss Homer, 36, managed escape as he yelled she was a ‘f ****** slag’.
The police officer appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court for sentencing today after he admitted assault by beating.
But his lawyer said he should not have to do community service because of his difficulty working with criminals and instead got a 14-week curfew, banning him from leaving his house between 7pm and 7am.
He was also ordered to pay a paltry £500 compensation to Miss Homer and court costs totalling £180. West Midlands Police tonight said he had been suspended from his job and facing a disciplinary probe into gross misconduct.
Banfield was off-duty and drunk at the time and the Mirror’s report of the case said the whole attack was captured on CCTV (main). Footage showed Banfield trying to perform an ‘unlawful arrest’ grabbing her round the neck and then tried to pull her to her feet as she screamed.
Miss Homer said the attack devastated her and left her battling anxiety and panic attacks. She is also plagued with insomnia and now needs counselling to help her deal with the trauma of the night.
The police officer and his victim are not thought to have known each other. Banfield’s sentencing comes amid growing anger following the death of Sarah Everard, 33. Wayne Cousens, a 48-year-old Met Police officer, has been charged with her murder.
